Desk companion



(No Model.)

Y. T. BROWN.

DESK GOMPANION. Patented Oct. 22

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U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

YARDLEY T. BROWN, OF HAMILTON, VIRGINIA.

DESK COMPANION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 548,247, dated October 22, 1895.

Application filed June 11, 1895.

To all whom it may concern.- 1

Be it known that I, YARDLEY T. BROWN, a citizen of the United-States, residing at Hamilton, in the county of Loudoun and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Desk Companions; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to desk companions.

The object of the invention is to provide a contrivance of this character which may be supported abovethe desk by a standard and attached .thereto or from the ceiling above the desk, and which will be so constructed that the various implements used by the clerk or professional man will always be within convenient reach and after having been used will automatically return to a point out of the way.

With these objects in view the invention consists in certain features of construction and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation showing the device supported from the ceiling. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing it supported by a standard to the desk. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the winding-drum, showing the manner of winding the cords therearound. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective of the spreader.

In the drawings, 1 denotes a bearing-block, which may be supported from the ceiling, as shown in Fig. 1, or by a standard secured to the desk and projecting above the same. This block is provided at its ends with apertured ears 2, between which is journaled a roller 3, having annular guide-collars 4, 5, 6, and 7, which divide the roller into windingdrums 8, 9, and 10. To these drums are secured suspending-cords 11, 12, and 13. The cords 11 and 12 are wound around their respective drums in a direction opposite to the winding of the cord 13 around its drum. To the lower ends of these cords are adapted to be attached the various articles used on the desk, such as a blotter, ruler, and pin-cushion. It is evident, however, that other articlessuch as scissors, erasers, and the like= may also be attached, and to accommodate Serial No. 552,404- (No model.)

these the roller may be divided into a larger number of winding-drums by simply extending the length of the roller and providing more collars. As such changes are obvious to any one skilled in the art, it is not thought necessary to illustrate them.

To separate and prevent the cords becoming tangled, I provide a spreaderlet, which consists of a cross-shaped frame the ends of which are provided with eyes 15. The cords wound around the drums 8 and 10 pass through and have a free sliding movement in the eyes of the lateral member of the spreader,

while the cord from the drum 9 passes through the eyes of the vertical twisted member of the spreader and is twisted around this member, so as not to have a free sliding movement, thereby preventing the spreader fall ing to the lower ends of the cords and interfering with the use or manipulation of the tools or implements carried thereby. This frictional engagement, however, is not sufficient to prevent the spreader being adjusted vertically. It will be seen that when two of the drums. are wound-for instance, 8 and lO-the middle drum 9 will be unwound by its cord. Now the parts are in their normal position, and when it is desired to use the tool or implement supported by the cord on the middle drum, especially if the same has to be used on the desk, it would be imp0ssi ble to bring it into such position that it might be used, as this cord has no further downward movement. To remedy or overcome this objection, I make this cord of elastic material; or a simpler way would be to provide an elastic 16 at its lower end, to which the desk tool or implement may be attached.

In operation when it is desired to use a blotter the person reaches above the desk, grasps the blotter, and pulls it down, and as the blotter is attached to the cord 11 of the drum'8 it is evident that this cord will be unwound and that the cords 12 and 13 will be wound upon their respective drums 9 and 10 and the implements supported by these cords will be drawn upward.

plements attached to the cords 12 and 13 will be sufficient to raise the blotter until the parts assume the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2.)

After the blotter has been used and released the weight of the im ICO The device is exceedingly simple and may' 5 convenient reach of the writer and may be brought into position to be used in a seconds time, whereas heretofore they invariably became mixed and lost with the papers upon the desk.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- The combination with a roller, cords fixed thereto and wound thereupon in opposite directions, of a spreader having eyes, through which said cords pass, one of said cords having a frictional engagement with said spreader, while the other cords pass freely through the eyes thereof, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I afifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

YARDLEY '1. BROWN. Witnesses:

A. B. SUIT, R. HERZ G, 

